At ITB Berlin 2024 today, Emirates and ITA Airways signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), which will expand their existing interline partnership into a full codeshare partnership.
On Wednesday (March 6, 2024), Emirates announced an expansion of their commercial cooperation with ITA Airways. At ITB Berlin 2024 today, the carriers signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) expanding their existing interline partnership into a full codeshare partnership. Once activated, the new codeshare will enhance options for customers traveling between Dubai, Italy and beyond, with one-stop connectivity to popular cities across Italy and wider Europe with ITA Airways. Likewise, inbound customers to Dubai will enjoy faster, more convenient connections to destinations across Emirates’ extensive global network.
In Tuesday’s announcement, Emirates Airline’s President and Chief Commercial Officer, Adnan Kazim, said,
“Enhancing our partnerships and boosting our presence in key regions such as Europe is an integral part of our commercial strategy, and underscores our commitment to providing customers flexibility through our partners’ complementary networks. Working closely with ITA Airways will strengthen our footprint across exciting cities in Italy, and key points in Europe. We look forward to fully activate our partnership with ITA Airways in the coming months and providing unrivalled access to both of our growing networks.”
Also commenting on the expanded commercial cooperation with Emirates, ITA Airways’ Chairman, Antonino Turicchi, said,
“We are pleased to sign this codeshare partnership with Emirates today. This MoU further enhances ITA Airways’ commercial strategy of growth and opens up a privileged access route to all passengers who will benefit the connectivity via Rome Fiumicino and Dubai. This agreement marks the Company's 35th codeshare partnership, an excellent result we have achieved in just over two years.”
With the planned codeshare, Emirates’ guests will enjoy one-stop connectivity via Rome to popular domestic tourist destinations such as Florence, Genoa, Palermo and Trieste, among others, as well as European cities including Tirana, Sofia and more. ITA customers will benefit from enhanced choices when traveling from Rome to Dubai and beyond. The new codeshare partnership will eventually offer combined ticketing and baggage transfers. Additionally, the expanded commercial cooperation will support inbound tourism to Italy via Emirates’ network from Australia, the Far East, the Middle East/GCC and West Asia.
As part of the MoU, the airlines also plan on establishing reciprocal loyalty benefits on both carriers’ frequent flyer program at a later date. Pending regulatory approvals, the codeshare flights will be progressively made available across all distribution channels. Emirates has offered service to Italy since 1992, and currently operates 41 weekly flights between Dubai and Rome, Milan, Venice and Bologna, with a mix of Boeing 777s and Airbus A380s.
Italia Trasporto Aereo (ITA Airways) was founded in November 2020 and is the new Italian national carrier. Commencing operations in October 2021, the SkyTeam alliance member airline is committed to providing superior customer service through strong digitization processes that ensure a personalized, best-in-class guest experience. The carrier operates a modern all-Airbus fleet. The company is committed to environmental sustainability through the operation of advanced fuel-efficient aircraft, the use of sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) and other developing technologies such as the development of urban air mobility through eVTOL aircraft.
Source(s): Emirates, ITA Airways